Historical Development of Composting Technology during the 20th Century (original) (raw)

A Scientific Perspective on Composting

From a scientific perspective, composting is the partial decomposition and stabilization of heterogeneous organic substances by a mixed microbial population under optimum conditions of moisture, temperature and aeration. Compost is composed of fairly homogeneous, stable organic matter with high molecular weight and is free of pathogens and weeds seeds. In nature, dead organic materials undergo several processes of microbial transformation according to substrate composition and physical environment. Composting requires that the process be mostly aerobic so that the organic matter is partially mineralized and humified. In order to produce suitable compost for agriculture, the composting process must be controlled, particularly through the choices of substrate, moisture content and aeration. Many of the different composting systems that have been developed have utilized this basic principle in their design .

The history and prediction of composting technology: A patent mining

Composting technology (CT) is a bridge between organic waste and soil carbon pool, which also a critical technology on the sustainable development of agriculture. Although some attempts have been made to address the CT assessment, technical details are not yet available; this brought difficulties in predicting the development directions. Here, patent measurement was used to analyse the structured and unstructured scripts of 11,701 composting technology patents (CTPs) in the Derwent Innovations Index database. It was discovered that the history of CT could be divided into the budding stage (1970e1989), the developing stage (1990e2006) and the expanding stage (2007e2019). Environmental policies are highly related to CT development. China authorised the most CTPs, accounting for 43.89% of the world's total. The World Intellectual Property Organization and the European Patent Office made a significant contribution to patent flow. The co-words analysis suggested that the technological aim of CT has shifted from waste disposal to organic fertiliser preparation. Cluster analysis sectored CTPs into 42.76% of which focuses on the composting device. Through the mining results and literature reviews, the subject of using mineral in compost, anaerobic fermentation, new microbial strain, straw composting and preparation of high-efficiency organic fertiliser were the potential research directions. This study investigated the history of CT and predicted possible trajectories that could be informative to eliminate repetitive and subsidiary horizontal innovations.

Waste Management through Composting: Challenges and Potentials

Sustainability, 2020

Composting is the controlled conversion of degradable organic products and wastes into stable products with the aid of microorganisms. Composting is a long-used technology, though it has some shortcomings that have reduced its extensive usage and efficiency. The shortcomings include pathogen detection, low nutrient status, long duration of composting, long mineralization duration, and odor production. These challenges have publicized the use of chemical fertilizers produced through the Haber–Bosch process as an alternative to compost over time. Chemical fertilizers make nutrients readily available to plants, but their disadvantages outweigh their advantages. For example, chemical fertilizers contribute to greenhouse effects, environmental pollution, death of soil organisms and marine inhabitants, ozone layer depletion, and human diseases. These have resulted in farmers reverting to the application of composts as a means of restoring soil fertility. Composting is a fundamental proces...

Assuring compost quality: suggestions for facility managers, regulators, and researchers

Biomass and Bioenergy, 1992

This paper defines the key aspects of compost quality assurance programs, and reports on research designed to assess compost variability. Quantitation of variability is necessary for predicting the percentage of composts that will meet a standard, and also for determining appropriate sample sizes and testing methods. We collected random samples within single batches of compost produced from either municipal solid waste (MSW) or from MSW and sewage sludge. The concentration of four metals, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Ni was measured using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry following acid digestion. The MSW compost contained 607 + 35 pg gg' Pb, 762 f 30 pg g-' Cu, 1196 + 57 pg gg' Zn, and 78 f 10 pg g-' Ni. The MSW + sludge compost contained 544 + 57 pg g-' Pb, 545 + 240 pg g-' Cu, 1413 + 162 pg g-' Zn, and 157 + 15 pg g-' Ni. The number of samples required to estimate the true mean value of each metal in each batch within + 5% was estimated based on these data. Estimates ranged from 3 samples to 313 samples depending on the metal and the facility. These data suggest that a large number of random samples should be collected from each batch of compost in order to accurately assess metal content. Another important aspect of compost testing is choice of analytical methods. Results of analyses of metals in NIST BCR 146 sewage sludge indicate that EPA method 3050 permits good recovery of these metals. Other aspects of compost sampling, analysis, and data reduction and reporting are discussed, and key references cited.

Composting: Advantages and Disadvantages

Abstract. Nowadays mankind is facing acute environmental problems. Hundreds of tons of biodegradable organic waste are being generated in cities and towns creating disposal problems. This waste can be converted into valuable compost by applying vermicomposting technology. The vermitechnology has been revived worldwide with diverse ecological objectives such as waste management, soil detoxification and regeneration and sustainable agriculture. A great attention should be paid to the production of ecologically pure food and increase of agricultural crop productivity using organic fertilizers to protect soil and crops from contamination with nitrates, phosphates and other mineral fertilizers. Promotion of vermitechnology in Georgia is essential in order to improve agricultural production quality and increase yield. Vermicomposting is widely practiced in various countries. The vermicompost may be used for farming, landscaping, for making compost tea or for selling. Some of these operations produce worms for fishing and home vermicomposting. However above listed advantages of vermicomposting does not mean to trust blindly bioproduct producers and not to listen to the opposite opinion of other professionals. Thus, what are the disadvantages of vermicomposting? Risk assessment is a new relatively young, yet rapidly developing interdisciplinary scientific trend worldwide. Today we can say with confidence that application of any technique of waste management involves many risks. The risks associated with waste management are described quite well in scientific literature. To identify the risks associated with composting of various organic wastes, the dynamics of the process itself should be clearly understood. The paper discusses advantages and disadvantages of this complex process and provides the recommendations for those who are willing to be engaged in vermicomposting. Key words: Vermitechnology, earthworms, microorganisms, fertilizers, microscopic fungi, bioproducts.

Experiences of Compost Use in Agriculture and in Land Reclamation Projects

The Science of Composting, 1996

Numerous agronomic experiments were set up in fruit and vine growing, using both MSW compost (municipal solid waste not source separated) and BS compost (barks and sewage sludges). Both materials were compared with cattle manure in the field; in planting hole with peat; in mulches with usual under-plant soil management techniques. Campost affected soil porosity, softness, waterholding capacity, and availability of nutritive elements in a positive way. Campost generally improved plants themselves, positively influenced the growth of young apple-trees and vine cuttings, prevented weed development and supported an earlier production in young plants. In some trials with MSW compost, increased heavy meta! content in the soil was observed. but that did not happen with BS compost. The BS compost proved a valid alternative to the soil and organic soil conditioners on the market in the recovery of degraded areas too. In the experiments, compost secured a rapid emergence and regular growth of herbaceaus species covering degraded areas. Establishment of a grass sward allowed soil consolidation, reducing soil erosion. The thoroughly environmental safety of tested compost was proved: leaching water and soil tests showed no sign of pollution or eutrophication. M. de Bertoldi et al. (eds.), The Science of Composting

Composting and Organic Waste Recycling a Better Option for Food Safety and Food Security

2021

Composting is a process of degrading organic waste to form a stable material through a control process called aerobics with a biodegradation conversion process that allows the colonization of beneficial microorganisms. Careful handling of inorganic waste was significant to reducing the cost of compounding livestock feed and minimizing waste disposal in the community. Innovative technologies can inactivate pathogens in organic waste. Compost has been found to be effective in stimulating plant growth and suppressing diseases and pathogens. Safety standards remains essential for producing food rich in proteins. The use of compost can sufficiently address the challenges of malnutrition and poverty worldwide. Composting through invertebrates was also found to be significant. This is the basis upon which life exists because of the continued recycling of waste. Food security and safety goes hand in hand with the use of compost. None of these parameters must be overlooked if food production is required to meet the needs of the continuously growing population in the future.